Most of our patients know that regular maintenance of your teeth and gums is the best way to prevent and detect serious dental issues before they become bigger problems. The general rule is that an exam and cleanings every six months can be sufficient, but often, cleanings and exams every three months will not only provide better oral health, but may be necessary.
Why do I need a three-month Periodontal Maintenance recare visit?
There is no cure for periodontal disease, it can only be managed or controlled. The bacteria that cause periodontal disease can re-establish in three months after treatment. A three month recare visit is critically timed to disrupt these bacteria in pockets greater than four millimeters in order to disable the destructive process at its critical stage. In this critical stage, the bacteria do the most damage on the periodontal attachments. For patients with adult periodontitis, a three-month recare visit is not an option but a requirement for successful therapy. Do not wait until six months to schedule this active part of your therapy. This could compromise your therapy and cause unneeded inflammation and discomfort.
How does a Periodontal Maintenance recare visit differ from a “Regular Cleaning”?
A “Regular Cleaning” is mainly above the gumline, where you brush and floss. At a Periodontal Maintenance recare visit, therapy is delivered below the gumline at the source of the infection. It is critical to disrupt the bacteria in pockets greater than four millimeters as this will disable the destructive process of the bacteria and help prevent the periodontal disease from progressing.